Our strategy
Our vision, mission and strategic priorities as a world-leading UK research and development facility.
Richard Oldfield, CEO
"We are industry's research and development partner. When companies need to make things lighter, stronger, smarter and more sustainable they come to the NCC. With access to 'beyond' state-of-the-art technology and the best composites engineering capabilities in the world, we help our customers solve the most complex engineering challenges of our time."
Our Story
The National Composites Centre was created as the UK’s Centre of Excellence for Composites Research and Development following the inclusion of this disruptive technology into government industrial strategy. Our task: to be recognised as a world leader in composite technology, accelerating the development and uptake of digital technologies for sustainable composites and growing the market for composites by driving innovation through collaboration and partnerships.
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Governance
Information on our Governance arrangements as a subsidiary of the University of Bristol.
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Meet the team
The NCC leadership team has extensive engineering and commercial experience across industry sectors.
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Membership at the NCC
An NCC membership gives you access to 'beyond' state-of-the-art technology and the best composites engineering capabilities in the world, as well as expert advice from specialist engineers.
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Academic reach
The NCC works proactively with universities across the UK and overseas in a number of ways to pull through fundamental research to industrial applications.
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Cross-Catapult programmes
We work closely with partners across the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and wider UK Catapult Network on collaborative projects.
Why choose composites?
Composites enable our everyday lives – in transport, energy, healthcare, defence, communications and leisure. Lightweight, strong, durable and adaptable, the unique properties of composites help us to design and make better products with less waste that last longer, helping us to address urgent societal challenges of sustainability and net-zero.
Our networks
High Value Manufacturing Catapult
The NCC is proud to be one of seven centres that makes up the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, which is itself one of nine Catapults created as a key tool in Innovate UK’s range of innovation support for businesses. Each Catapult is focused on an area in which the UK has the potential to grow in strategically important global markets.
Composites Leadership Forum
The National Composites Centre is a pivotal member of the UK’s Composite Leadership Forum which works to influence the Government and other bodies to bring together support for composites and ensure growth and industrial success for the UK. It is chaired and led by industry.
Composites UK Trade Association
The NCC also is a board member of Composites UK Trade Association, fully supporting its mission to encourage continuous growth and development of the industry, promoting the best practice use of composites materials. We work closely to bring companies throughout the composites supply chain together, creating a unified voice to drive the industry forward to the benefit all of those involved.
Our Members
Our latest news
News
News
Case Study
News
Case Study
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Space West Newsletter - May 2025
28 May 2025Welcome to the May 2025 edition of our Space West Newsletter. With each newsletter, we aim to share the most recent discoveries, advancements, and stories from the world of Space in the South West. -
Space West Newsletter - April 2025
29 Apr 2025Welcome to the April 2025 edition of our Space West Newsletter. With each newsletter, we aim to share the most recent discoveries, advancements, and stories from the world of Space in the South West. -
Sustainable options steer hydrogen-powered vehicle
11 Apr 2025The NCC has developed a steering wheel that could be one of the most sustainable options of its kind. This effort supports Waste2Race, a project aimed advancing knowledge in hydrogen-powered vehicle technology, led by WMG, University of Warwick in partnership with University of Leeds. -
CEAMS secures further funding to advance sustainable materials innovation
08 Apr 2025NCC is leading technology creation and supply chain development within the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS), a dynamic collaboration driving growth through sustainable materials innovation. -
Novel manufacturing unlocks new "healing" capabilities in advanced materials
07 Apr 2025The NCC explores a proof-of-concept offering a multi-repair solution that could significantly extend product lifespan and reduce environmental impacts. For the energy industry, the potential impact of application to wind turbine blades could generate substantial environmental and economic benefits for the UK.